Discussion

A common example used to explain forced cognition used a reversal, where you
are asked not to think of, for example, a pink elephant. Of course this
becomes impossible as thinking about not thinking about it makes you think about
it.

Forced cognition is at the root of suggestion, as it makes the person think
about something. Effective suggestion also leads to the person accepting
what it proposed.

Hazard warning!

Forced cognition implies a hazard warning: When a person is in a trance they
are often highly suggestible and anything that is said can inadvertently
have an undesirable effect. This is one of the main ways that hypnosis can go
wrong, where the hypnotist says something casually and does not realize the
effect it has.